Follow Newser on Twitter   Friend Newser on Facebook
Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

N. Koreans Fail Steroids Test, Blame Lightning (Again)

Team says players took natural medicine after big zap

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 16, 2011 11:27 AM CDT

(Newser) – Boy, that was some lightning strike. When North Korea's women's soccer team lost to USA, it blamed the lingering effects of a lightning strike from earlier in the month. Now that five of its players have tested positive for steroids at the World Cup, the team is pulling out the lightning strike excuse again, reports AP: It says players recovering from the zap took traditional Chinese medicine—specifically the extract of a gland from a musk deer—that might be confused with steroids.

"This is a shock," said FIFA's president. "We are confronted with a very, very bad case of doping and it hurts." The agency's scientists are looking into the musk deer explanation—it wouldn't be the first time a naturally occurring substance has raised doping concerns in sports—and a disciplinary committee will take up the case. Meanwhile, team USA plays for the World Cup championship against Japan at 2:45 ET tomorrow.

The North Korean team.
The North Korean team.   (AP Photo / Kerstin Joensson)
Lotta Schelin of Sweden, left, challenges Song Jong Sun of North Korea during a match. The North Korean player is one of five accused of using steroids.
Lotta Schelin of Sweden, left, challenges Song Jong Sun of North Korea during a match. The North Korean player is one of five accused of using steroids.   (Getty Images)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
My TakeCLICK BELOW TO VOTE
83%
1%
2%
1%
1%
12%
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
NxBigmouthery
Jul 17, 2011 11:07 PM CDT
Should NK even be allowed to participate in international sporting events? It doesn't appear to want to have anything else to do with anyone, so why don't they just get back to what they're good at - telling lies and sponging off China while their people starve to death?
lefttheleft
Jul 17, 2011 7:20 AM CDT
The leftist government leaders of North Korea has lightening. The leftist government leaders of the USA have President GW Bush. Blame something or someone else for your disastrous decisions.
newzerbecool
Jul 16, 2011 3:55 PM CDT
"It was a shock" I see what you did there, FIFA.

 
North Korea • steroids • World Cup • sports doping • women's soccer

More Newser Stories

North Korea Blames Lightning Strike for Loss to US

Roger Clemens Must Face New Perjury Trial

Meet the Best Women's Soccer Player in the World

Let's Just Legalize Steroids

Clemens Faces Nearly 2 Years in Jail
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Timelines   |   Geek Sugar   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment